On what happened after a strong first period:
“It didn’t seem like a strong first period in my opinion. That’s your opinion, and that was mine.”
On the strong five-on-five play until the third period:
“We couldn’t handle the Benn line and had nobody to answer the checking responsibility.”
On whether the forwards and/or defensemen were responsible:
“Goalie, defense and forwards. We didn’t have anyone that could handle that line.”
On whether there was a new look from a Dallas team that featured some new faces:
“Not really, I mean we’re pretty familiar with all their players. They have some kids in their lineup this year that are similar to our kids. They’re energy, hardworking guys and Benn and Jagr were too much for us.”
On what led to Dallas’ third goal, scored by Brenden Morrow:
“Stoll in the corner, on his man, Slava shouldn’t go there and Rob Scuderi – I’m not really sure.”
On whether there’s a concern over the lack of 60-minute efforts recently:
“Giving up four goals a game, you can’t win. We need better goaltending, better defense. Simple. It’s four goals in Vancouver, plus an empty net. We beat Nashville 5-1. Gave up four, have to score five in the third to win our last game and gave up four tonight. You won’t win any games.”
On whether playing three games in four nights was a factor:
“No, we had a day off yesterday. No excuse for it. I felt good. I’m almost 55. I felt awesome today.”
On whether there’s an advantage playing the same team twice in a row, as will happen with Calgary:
“I don’t know. I don’t know how it would…Well, I think we have to do that several times. It’s no different than a playoff series. We do it with Phoenix right away. We do it with San Jose home and home, right away.”
On whether he’s surprised that at game 22 goaltending is an issue:
“I’m saying we didn’t get good enough goaltending tonight.”
On the team needing to raise its save percentage:
“We do. It’s a stat that tells the truth. That’s one stat that doesn’t lie, right? Lehtonen tonight was at about a .940 or so. That’s a stat that always holds true…Goals against, save percentage – it’s a big thing. They’re both team stats.”
Save percentage is based upon the quality of the chances allowed and the goalies skill. the number of grade A chances the past 4 games has gone up. the new 5 need a practice day to go over the basics and reinforce good habits. Are there any practice days this season?
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shiny Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 11:40 pm
@jet, Tomorrow is practice, game Saturday, Sunday is Royal Feast, Game Monday, Game Tuesday, probably off Wednesday (maybe light practice depending on how it goes) Game Thursday, Game Saturday and repeat the following week (minus the Royal Feast which is only this Sunday).
After that, they have 2 days between games starting with Chicago (the 25th), 2 days off, then Blues, 2 days off followed by double header in Minny then Dallas (ew, Dallas).
April not a whole lot better than March with them playing a game basically every other day.
Sutter has to figure out the balance of when to practice and when the guys get the day off.
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luc20rules Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 11:43 pm
@jet, +1, that is exactly what I saw. 3 of the 4 goals were results of passes that went across the slot and one timed or deflected. The D & Center are suppose to take that away that way the Goalie only has to worry about shooters on one side of the ice. The team will have mental lapses from time to time. This game was full of them. Get well Mitchell and Greene our PK surely is not the same without you. I think Scuds had a rare weak game. He didn’t stop enough of the passes thru the slot or wasn’t in position which is rare.
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shiny Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 12:01 am
@luc20rules, Scuds IMHO is trying to give Martinez a run for his money at who can turn the puck over faster to the other team. He’s been doing it rather noticeably for at least the last 4 games. He’ll chip the puck out of the zone only to have it come right back in because the other side’s offense is there to collect it and push it back in.
He was off on Saturday, good on Monday, OK on Tuesday and tonight he was just completely out of it the whole game.
Wish Greener could come back soon. I think Willie Mitchell is off in his own little island somewhere getting treatments done on his knee
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 1:44 am
I think Scuds has been inconsistent, too, but looking at the lineup, I think only Voynov and Carter have been consistent. I’ll throw Muzzin in because he’s learning, and he’s improving greatly.
It could be worse, I guess. They have played some really good games, but this wasn’t one of them.
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 12:32 am
@luc20rules, You nailed it on the goals. They left Quick hung out to dry repeatedly. Quick’s not going to stop those, and Bernier isn’t going to stop them.
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PK Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 7:02 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, Agree 100%. Not sure I can agree about needing better goaltending last night. I’m not a Quick apologist either. Defense was porous and too much side to side passing allowed through. Granted they were fortunate bounces in 2 of the goals but still. Scuderi, Martinez, and to a lesser extent Muzzin, all made some questionable plays. When they play like that the forwards tend to drift too far back which causes confusion, tangles with own players and worst of all, a 2nd guy out of position.
Just a weird game.
KingMe20 Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 7:17 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,
Exactly. The only goal I definitely felt Quick should have had was the second one, and maybe the fourth (I thought he kind of overplayed the initial pass). He isn’t recovering from the initial pass or rebounds like he did last year. I do worry about complacency, and I do worry about the injury. At the same time, any goalie of any caliber would look pretty average when the guys in front of him do their jobs as poorly as the Kings did last night. It felt like he only guys on their game last night were Doughty, Penner, and Lewis.
cesar Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 11:07 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, well Quick use to stop those shots so im not in favor of how the D has been playing but Quick hasnt been so Quick this Season.
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 9th, 2013 at 12:53 pm
@cesar, That’s some fantasy. Quick has ALWAYS been criticized, even when he was playing well. He’s not playing as well as he has, but that doesn’t mean he’s been playing poorly. He’s obviously picked it up, and I’m sure he will continue to do so.
CUP4LA Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 1:04 pm
@jet, Save percentage does not take quality of chances allowed into consideration.
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jet Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 9:56 pm
@CUP4LA, that is exactly my point.
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I was at the game in section 110 and we just looked fatigued tonight, especially in the 3rd. Dallas had the energy in the 3rd & got to all the loose pucks. We looked like we played 3 games in 4 days. Dallas was the fresher team and played a better game tonight. We were chasing. As this race to the playoffs plays out, the best conditioned teams who handle this crazy schedule have a clear advantage.
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shiny Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 11:51 pm
@King Alex, Dallas got to be fresher because they had 3 days off to rest; Kings had 1. It’s an excuse and it’s not an excuse all at the same time.
Point is, you’re right. Whichever team can manage to handle this crazy schedule and keep up with their conditioning is going to do well in the playoffs.
The next 2 months will be a roller coaster ride from hell for everyone so hang on to your hat and prepare for disappointment!
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luc20rules Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 11:57 pm
@shiny, So what your saying is not to worry as we get a fresh Mitchell & Greene back before the playoffs.
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shiny Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 12:03 am
@luc20rules, Haha exactly! I don’t know if we’ll ever get Mitchell back but a fresh Greener just in time for playoffs will be exactly what this team needs
King Alex Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 12:01 am
@shiny, it’s going to be a white knuckle ride just to get to the playoffs in the western conference. I believe we are up to the challenge because we have the talent, skill & experience. I just hope we get some luck too!
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shiny Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 12:04 am
@King Alex, I hope so too. Some lucky bounces into the back of the opposing team’s net would be good… And let’s hope the Kings can make Kiproff (or whatever his name is) look like a rookie on Saturday and Monday.
“I felt good. I’m almost 55. I felt awesome today.”
Time to lace ‘em up again, no.27.
You know you want it.
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Mikey J. Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 12:34 am
@Duncanz, You know he’d be right there in the middle of it if a skirmish broke out.
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Quick has really been overplaying the puck lately. His movements are so exaggerated, it looks like he’s sliding around on an oil slick.
Give him a rest and some goalie lessons, and get Bernier back in with his quick, efficient & controlled reactions. Bernier has definitely been the better goalie this season.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 1:16 am
@simonsez, If he didn’t have a five-hole the size of Texas, he might be better than Quick. Bernier isn’t going to stop three of those Quick had no chance on, and the other he got a piece of, but the shot was too close and too hard.
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Mike Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 8:18 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,
True, but(there is always a but) we all know Quick hasn’t been the better goaltender. Bernier is playing better; Quick may be over thinking saves.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 10:19 am
@Mike, It’s been pretty close, really. Up until the previous game, the defense was better in front of Bernier (I think the psych of playing in front of the backup had something to do with it.) That game, though, Bernier got to see what it’s like. This one was similar.
tomb Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 7:31 am
@simonsez, I agree with you. Bernier should be in net next game.
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brian spain Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 7:31 am
@simonsez, The Bernier who was lit up on Tuesday night vs The Blues.
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Mike Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 8:20 am
@brian spain, the 3 goals that went in on Bernier were unstoppable, they could of went in on any goalie. They were much like 3 out of the goals that Quick wasn’t able to stop.
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LT21 Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 9:05 am
@Mike, I’m sorry but Jagr wide open twice on the back door for a cross ice pass vs. 3 goals through the five hole are not that similar in my opinion. Yes Bernier had those deflected, but that is what the stick is for. To cover the five hole if you need to open the legs. The Bernier goals were not “unstoppable” in my opinion.
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 10:21 am
@brian spain, Every single goal Bernier gave up last time went five-hole and was in traffic, when he needed to have his stick down on the ice.
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hbjohn Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 6:37 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, And Quick hasn’t given up any bad goals this season? I think I will take the stats this year and start Bernier next game. So Bernier had one bad game (your opinion)? How many has Quick had this year?
Time to sit Elerby and play Drewiske!!!
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Since winning the cup and JQ’s stellar goaltending last year, teams wanna know how to beat him. A lot of the goals scored on him were top shelf. They have started to figure out from last year that you can rarely beat JQ down low. Some goals no goalie in the NHL can stop.
Darryl’s right on the D needs to step it up. Not to say JQ can do better but having a look at Ellerby now for some games. Sit him and put in Drewiske.
What in the world is going on with Mitchell? Win the cup take the year off?
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 10:23 am
@Steamer Lane, Put bluntly, they need to keep the snipers from camping out in the high slot and/or keep them from getting cross-ice passes (at least with Quick.) That’s where all the damage has been coming from. With Berns, he needs to work on his five hole.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 10:24 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, That said, Quick should probably work on his seven-hole. Someone pointed out a game or two ago that he wasn’t keeping his glove out when he’d have to know an attempt was coming.
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Deke'r Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 4:56 pm
@Steamer Lane, …Marty stunk it up if you asked me….way out of shape…
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Not sure if Coach has been watching past games but we can never handle Benn. He’s one of the few players I would like to trade for so that he stops kicking are arses.
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Pssst, Sutter…It’s a 5-2 league now.
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